Hi, I just want to get a feel for how Cox manages his closers, as I am new to fantasy baseball. I am curious because currently I own Mike Gonzalez, Hoffman, Torres, and F Cordero, and have only 2 RP, and 2P spots, but I want to put in an MR to get me some holds. So, I am thinking of dropping Mike gonzalez for a SP. I am hesitant because the braves are a good team and will win a lot of games, and give Mike opportunities to close. But I seem to have heard from somewhere that Cox is very frustrating manager with respect to using his relievers and closers. Is this true, does he do this thing where he puts in a lefty to get one out, puts in a righty to get another, etc. Will he take away some of Gonzalez' value?

BillyHallDisciple wrote:Bobby Cox runs his closer system the same way Mike Shanahan runs the Denver Broncos' Runningbacks in football... I would just stay away from the situation entirely.

Stay away from the clear leader for Saves on a contending team???

I think not.

I would hold on to Gonzalez man. They may baby him for a month or so, but he's by far the best arm in the pen right now. The only guy who's close in skill level is Soriano, and there little chance in my mind he becomes a real option this year again.

Gonzalez had that great year in Pitt a couple years back, had his operation taken care of last year, and seems ready to go. The Braves did pay what at the time seemed like a pretty high price for Gonzalez (Adam LaRoche), so I think they were looking to make him their Closer sooner or later. All they had to give up for Soriano was Horatio Ramirez...which tells you really all you need to know about what Seattle thought of Soriano's health.

BillyHallDisciple wrote:Bobby Cox runs his closer system the same way Mike Shanahan runs the Denver Broncos' Runningbacks in football... I would just stay away from the situation entirely.

Exactly wrong. when Cox has a decent closer, he uses them exclusively. Some years (like this one), he has been forced to mix and match because he has a bad bullpen...

2008: Closer sucked; hence a CBC2007: Wickman was picking up all the saves (20) 'til he got hurt and decided he didn't want to play for the Braves anymore, then Soriano took over and got almost all the saves. These guys weren't even all that good...2006: We tried Reitsma at closer. That failed, so we went ahead and got Wickman. in between Wickman and Reitsma, it was a CBC, but that was because our other RPs sucked...2005: Farnsworth at the end of the year, before that CBC. But we started with Kolb, but Kolb absolutely sucked, as did all of the Braves' other bullpen pitchers (Reitsma, etc.), so Cox went with CBC...2001-2004: Smoltz

Basically, we try to use a closer. When our closer sucks, we go CBC until we find a closer who actually does a decent job. I think most MLB teams would do this. And every year we've eventually found a closer (usually by trade). I agree with Maris09. Hold onto Gonzo baby, he's the closer that the Braves finally found this year (he was 29-for-29 or something in Pittsburgh...)

BillyHallDisciple wrote:Bobby Cox runs his closer system the same way Mike Shanahan runs the Denver Broncos' Runningbacks in football... I would just stay away from the situation entirely.

Yeah don't really get this. The Broncos make any running back look good. The Braves and their closers, yeah not so much.

I think he meant you can't count on figuring out which one is going to get the TD's (ie Saves).Runningback by committee (CBC) type thing.It still didn't work.....but I get what he was trying to say. To be fair it was that type of situation before Gonzalez was activated. If he is able to stay healthy there shouldn't be much of a time share there.

BillyHallDisciple wrote:Bobby Cox runs his closer system the same way Mike Shanahan runs the Denver Broncos' Runningbacks in football... I would just stay away from the situation entirely.

Yeah don't really get this. The Broncos make any running back look good. The Braves and their closers, yeah not so much.

I think he meant you can't count on figuring out which one is going to get the TD's (ie Saves).Runningback by committee (CBC) type thing.It still didn't work.....but I get what he was trying to say. To be fair it was that type of situation before Gonzalez was activated. If he is able to stay healthy there shouldn't be much of a time share there.

Yeah I figured as much, but I'm a Braves fan and merely pointing out that our closers have sucked since Smoltz. Still though, once Cox finds a reliable closer they should have the role for good so yeah.

curious_george_43545 wrote:Yeah I figured as much, but I'm a Braves fan and merely pointing out that our closers have sucked since Smoltz. Still though, once Cox finds a reliable closer they should have the role for good so yeah.

Exactly. So the question is, do you trust Gonzalez? his numbers from previous years lead me to trust him...

I think looking at Gonzalez's track record should give you an idea where the Braves want to go in terms of their closer situation. Since Gonzalez has more of a record than Soriano does, Cox would feel that Gonzo is the not only better of the two but the safer of the two. The only numbers to worry about are his WHIP, but if you take a look at his numbers from 2006 (2.17 ERA, 64 K in 54 IP, 24/24 in save opportunities) tells you that he is more than comfortable in the closer's role. Stick with Gonzalez and ride him out.